Billy's Mahvelous Book Deal
Billy Crystal's pulling a Madonna.
No, the veteran funny guy isn't tarting around in Gap jeans with Missy Elliott, but he is trying his hand as a kiddie book author.
Crystal, 55, has inked a two-book deal with HarperCollins Children's Books, the home base of such other youngster-friendly celebs as Jamie Lee Curtis, Dolly Parton, Sting and Julie Andrews.
Crystal's rookie effort at kidding around, I Already Know I Love You, was inspired by the birth of his first grandchild, Ella, and is due in April 2004. It will be illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles (Five Little Kittens). No word on the name, plot or publishing date of the second tome.
"My granddaughter's birth has made me want to create things that she will love," Crysal says in a press release. "It's a great challenge and pleasure to write something that children and their parents can enjoy together."
The Emmy-winning Crystal was last seen onscreen opposite Robert De Niro in 2001 Analyze That and was heard as the voice of Monsters, Inc.'s oversized eyeball, Mike Wazowski. In May, he signed a three-year, exclusive deal with HBO to create, produce and direct series, movies and miniseries. Crystal previously directed the cable net's 2001 Emmy-nominated baseball movie *61 and toplined HBO's Comic Relief benefits.
Crystal's the latest entertainer to hop on the children's book bandwagon. Aside from Madonna, whose The English Roses hits shelves in September, other celebs cranking out books for young'uns include Bill Cosby, Jerry Seinfeld, Katie Couric, Spike Lee, John Lithgow. LeAnn Rimes and, most recently, Jay Leno, whose If Roast Beef Could Fly will be published next year by Simon & Schuster.
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